Thanks so much, David!
I just happened to hear the song last night, when I watched part of a PBS fundraising special. I hadn’t heard it in a while, and it definitely resonated with me.
Massive hugs back to you!

Lovely, Merril. I read this as I’m recovering from an afternoon outing with my own mom, this one to a nearby “pleasant hike” (so said the Day Trip book) that would take “an hour or two.” Four hours later, at only the half way point, we were rescued by luck, disguised as a small motor boat and friendly locals. I’m thinking you and I will be quite pleased with our memories all too soon. I envy your ability to capture the scene in a poem. I was right there with you.

Merril, I LOVE this post. Your poetic description swept me along too. I laughed when you said you forgot to photograph your friend, but you actually did photograph her “photo bomb” into your poem. You photographed her with words.

I remember spending days like this with both my Grandmas where the joy of the moment is twinged with what you know is coming inevitably one day and how everything takes on an intensity and beauty and that these are the moments thast deserve the poems, the photos and journal entries so they are never lost.
Your words and imagery were absolutely beautiful.
When I was in rehab after my diagnosis, I used to go for walks in this paddock of grass next to the hospital, which I later found made me an “escapee”. I had actually unwittingly left hospital grounds. Me being me, I had my camera with me and after all those weeks in hospital, I was almost hallucinating looking at the grass and the blue sky. I waxed lyrically about the clumps of clover in the grass that made it more of a paddock than a lawn and having spent a few years growing up in the country and making daisy chains out of clover, that really resonated with me.
Reading your post, the clover seemed to take on that same sort of significance for you on your outing with your Mum, when everything somehow because etched in glass like stained-glass windows.
I miss my grandmothers and would just love another cup of tea and to squeeze their hands.
Take care xx Ro

Thanks so much, Ro, for your heartfelt comment. I’m glad my post brought back all these memories for you!
The clover was not really such a big deal for me. 🙂 I heard the buzzing and looked down, and there were the bees busy with their bee duties. I remember thinking that it was a good thing, given the bee decline in some areas–and probably great for the vineyard’s grape production.

I honestly don’t know how serious it is. Bee keeping seems to have become more popular, and the crops here in S. Jersey seem to be doing well, but it’s not my area of expertise. I often buy some great local honey. (We call it library honey because our library is one of the places that sells it.) 🙂

Merril … Your beautiful memories of family, friends, food and wine sent me into a relaxing reverie. I’m so glad that you got to enjoy this outing with your mom. It’s the kind of day I would have loved to share with my Mom (and Dad). I also loved the words from Simon and Garfunkel’s song, “Bookends.” 😉

Aww, what a delicious day you had! The fare sounds delightful, and the company, superb. I’m so glad your mom still has her faculties to enjoy such a day. That’s such a blessing. And I’m extremely happy that you took photos with her. Congratulations, my friend, ❤